Visitors' Book

Wickhamford Memorial Hall Committee, 1951

The photograph below is of the fifteen members of the Wickhamford Memorial Hall Committee who took up their roles after the Hall was extended and re-opened after the Second World War.  This article gives more details of these villagers and a newspaper report of the official opening of the Hall on 7th December 1951.

Wickhamford Memorial Hall
             Wickhamford Memorial Hall Committee; members names are given below in the key accompanying the photograph.

Wickhamford Memorial HallThe full names and addresses of the Committee members are as follows:

  • “Mrs S. Figgett” – Amy Figgitt of 15 Council Houses, Pitchers Hill
  • “W. Johnson, Hon. Assistant Secretary” – Walter Henry Morelle Johnson of 21 Pitchers Hill
  • “E.W. Sturt, Chairman – Ernest William Sturt of Weathervane Cottage, Manor Road
  • “W.H. Batty, President” – Walter Henry Batty of Wickhamford Manor
  • “A.C. Welland, Hon. Secretary” – Alfred Charles Welland of Quantock, Longdon Hill
  • “Mrs F.M. Dean, Hon. Treasurer” – Florence M. Dean of Leystones, Longdon Hill
  • “Mrs C. Heritage” – Annie May Heritage of 59 Pitchers Hill
  • “S.B. Carter, MBE (Mil) – Sydney Benjamin Carter of Shire End, Pitchers Hill
  • “Mrs W. Johnson” – Gladys I. Johnson of 21 Pitchers Hill
  • “Mrs H. Griffiths” – Cynthia M. Griffiths of 1 Sandys Avenue
  • “Mrs G. Sutton Jnr” – Margaret Phyllis Sutton of 51 Council Houses, Pitchers Hill
  • “T.C. Sheaf” – Thomas Cyril Sheaf of Manor Cottage, Wickhamford Lane
  • “S. Figgitt” – Stanley Figgitt of 15 Council Houses, Pitchers Hill
  • “Mrs T. Garvey, Hon. Assistant Treasurer” – Thelma Betty Shannon-Garvey of Leystones, Longdon Hill
  • “F. Taylor” – Frederick Thomas John Taylor of 5 Council Houses, Pitchers Hill

As was normal at that time, married women’s names were given in the original list with their husband’s initials.  The addresses added here are those given on the 1951 Electoral Roll for Wickhamford. Many of them have changed since then.  Frederick Taylor was always known as ‘Mac Taylor’ and Margaret Phyllis Sutton was known as ‘Phyll Sutton’.

The history of the Hall, from its construction in 1907, as a Reading Room, to the Covid pandemic in 2020/21 can be seen in an article written in 2018 and updated in 2023.

When the Hall was re-opened after the Second World War, a Deed of Appointment was drawn up on 31st August 1951.  The Committee shown in this article would have been appointed after that meeting.

Opening of the Memorial Hall

The Evesham Standard of 14th December 1951 reported on the opening of the Hall a week earlier, on Friday 7th December.  There was a large attendance with Mr. Sturt in the Chair.  Mr. Richard Lees-Milne performed the opening ceremony.  Mrs. Batty said that it was fitting that he should do so, as without the support of his late father, George Lees-Milne, it was most certain that there would have been no Hall to open.  In January 1943, a band of villagers had proposed building a new Hall to replace the Reading Room, but this could not go ahead and instead the existing Hall was expanded. £2,000 had been raised to extend the Hall and it was now ready for use and free from debt.

 Mr. Sturt gave a history of the Hall and he made special reference to Mr. Bert Webb, who he said, was the instigator of the whole scheme. (Albert Ernest Webb lived at Whitfurrows Farm, Wickhamford). He also paid tribute to Mr. Welland, the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Johnson, the Hon. Assistant Secretary and Mrs. Dean and the ever working band of ladies who helped with all the functions. He was sorry that the late Mr. Ted Hall was not with them, as he too had done much valuable work.  (Charles Edward Hall of Willersey Road, Badsey, had recently died and was buried in Wickhamford on 1st December).

Mayor S. B. Carter moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Sturt and Mrs. Figgitt presented a bouquet to Mrs. Lees-Milne (George Lees-Milnes’ widow).  Dancing went on until midnight, music being provided by the Ambassador’s Dance Band.  The M.C. was Mr. Derrick Daffurn (of Elm Farm) and refreshments were provided by Mrs. Tigwell (of the Sandys Arms).

In Memoriam

Of the fifteen members of the Committee, six were buried in Wickhamford:

Alfred Welland died in 1984; the burial service was held at Wickhamford but he was buried at Waterside Cemetery, Evesham.

Sydney Carter died at Wickhamford in 1953 and there was a memorial service at the Church, but his place of burial has not been identified at present.  

Tom Locke – July 2025